Victorian raiders look set to play a major role in the $250,000 Magic Millions SA 3 & 4YO Classic at Murray Bridge, with Tom Dabernig’s Shadhavar expected to jump as the short-priced favourite.
The talented mare brings the strongest form lines into the 1200-metre contest and looks ideally drawn to control the race from barrier one. But while the market may have gravitated toward the Victorian visitor, a deep local contingent and several progressive types ensure this will be no easy prize to claim.
(1) Dancing Storm – $15
Put in a competitive effort behind the in-form Mic Drop in his last start. That form reads well for this and off that run he looks likely suited rising in distance and getting out to the bigger Murray Bridge track, looks a big price at double figure odds for a runner with an ideal set up.
(2) Cash – $11
Has always promised good talent through his career but his recent runs up on The Gold Coast haven’t quite gone to plan with a pair of average performances. He can find a level of improvement here returning to his home track and showed that recently putting in a strong effort at the trials. Capable of more than what his recent form suggests.
(3) Shadhavar – $2.40
Looks the runner of the race who brings in the strongest form and ratings through what she was producing in her last prep. She isn’t a great first-up performer having never run in the top three fresh, but she has looked good in recent trials and maps ideally from barrier 1 which should see her potentially take up a soft lead. Should jump as a short price favourite.
GET Mitch Lewis’ full preview of Murray Bridge here
(4) Light The Night – $11
Takes a step up in grade today but is coming in as a last start winner. He boasts a quick turn of foot and appreciates the Murray Bridge track. He needs to find some lengths of improvement to be a threat but gets suitable conditions to find some of that required level of improvement.
(5) Redders – $10
Victorian visitor who was a winner at Geelong first-up before tackling a Group 3 race at Caulfield next. While he was outclassed in that race, he should find this much easier and is capable of being at peak fitness now third-up into his prep. He was a third-up winner last preparation and looks a likely chance in a set up that should suit.
(6) Mathematician – $3.80
Blew his rivals away when winning on debut at Morphettville, running over the top of the field to win softly. He needs to take a step up in level for this race but looks suited at this track and rising to the 1200m trip. Certainly looks capable of handling the class rise with any improvement from that first-up performance.
(7) Dampen – $29
Finished third last start but was still some lengths behind the winner of the race. He has one win from 14 starts and is rising in grade, which suggests he looks up against it here against this competition based on what we have seen so far in his career.
(8) Glouf – $26
Will Clarken brings a maiden runner here for the second run of his career. He was met with strong market support when on debut at Gawler but had to settle for second there. This is a jump up in level and will prove a strong test of his talent early into his career.
(9) Ashen Glow – $251
Still yet to finish in the top three in any runs in his career but the stable is happy to take the risk on his chances and throw him into the deep end. Feels likely to be outclassed in this field, but his only hail Mary chance may be the fact he maps softly from a low barrier.
(10) Violet Lovebug – $10
Is a runner in super form having won three of four runs this preparation. The rise in distance to 1200m could prove a test for her as she has looked vulnerable late in some recent runs, but she is at the lighter end of the weight scale. Her best chance will likely be if she can find a forward position in run and be hard to catch late with the help of the lighter weight.
Selections:
(3) Shadhavar
(1) Dancing Storm
(6) Mathematician
(2) Cash
Suggested Bet: 3 Shadhavar (Win)
